They had waited until after dinner, the whole family curling up around the fireplace as Hiram got it started. Everyone had come down for this one... Sal and Amelia sat on the love seat, his arm around her shoulders as she curled into him. Hiram had his chair claimed once he got the fire started. Christian and Tsukina sat on the large couch, Tsukina laying her head in Christian's lap as he ran his fingers through her hair. Elyan sat on the opposite end of the couch, resting Tsukina's feet on his leg, despite her initial bewilderment. Even Evelia and Jacoby had gathered around, Evelia draped lazily across an armchair and Jacoby seated, Indian-style on the floor, with his back resting against the bottom of Evelia's seat.

Sullivan laid on his side with his back to the fire, listening to Hiram mutter curses while dragging fingers along Salena's side. He chuckled and looked over his shoulder...

"Need hel~"

Before he could finish, the flames sparked to life and Hiram yelled happily. "HAHA! NO, I do -not- need your help dear brother!" He chuckled, then hopped up and settled into his seat. Christian, being the head of the house, smiled and looked at Salena.

"I'm glad you wish to ask questions. I'm also happy all of you agreed to wait for me so that we could all gather and enjoy a night of discourse."

Nodding, he waved the hand not tangled in Tsukina's long, black locks at Salena. "Since you're our guest, you may ask first. We will all attempt to answer any question you have to the best of our abilities. No holding back for sake of sanity, either. We'll put it all out in the open, because this house does not operate with secrets within it's walls. Outside would be another story, of course, but here? We are out in the open, happy of our existence and honest with one another. Otherwise, it would be a long and terrible eternity if we had to remember lies..." He chuckled and smiled.

"So, please, go ahead."

Sullivan nuzzled into Salena's neck from behind her. "Ask whatever you want." He kissed her soft flesh lightly before resting his head on her shoulder.

Sally blushed, positively loathing the feeling of being in the spotlight. But... they were being very gracious. So, who was she to argue? Glancing over her shoulder she whispered softly, "One for one?" Sully, smirking, nodded. Sally blinked at him for a second and then blushed brighter, "There's literally NO point in whispering is there?" Chuckling, he shook his head, "But they'll respect your desire for privacy all the same." 

Chuckling bashfully, Sally turned back to the group around her... suddenly at a loss. "You must get really ignorant questions all the time... I wish there was something creative I could break the ice with. ... as if anything is creative after... yeeeahhh..."  she giggled a little, glancing at Ely. 

She was silent in thought for a long moment, the fire crackling quietly behind them as the others waited patiently. "Oh... oh... I know," she finally clapped excitedly, "If you could have picked your... um... "thing" what would you have picked for yourself?" She smiled, using air quotes, "And as a secondary... what's it actually called? I know that's two, technically. But verbiage is is quite practical in this sense. Helps with framing." She nodded. 

All of them seemed to raise a brow at once, but it was Sal who spoke up first.

"Thing, like ability... I know she doesn't know the words, but context clues, jeez."

Christian smirked and looked at Sal, "Remember -your- ability, Sal, and how it makes it easier to understand someone's thoughts? Yes, context clues aside, no need to be smart or sour." Everyone chuckled at him as Sal smirked. He knew he'd used his, but it was almost like he did it purposely as a way to point it out.

Christian continued as he turned to Salena, "For me, well, I know Sullivan explained mine a little. My ability has to do with blood, the control of it, the knowledge of it, tracking of it, anything you can think of... Including using it as a source for magics. The stronger my blood, the stronger the ability is, and I grow in power by taking it from those I defeat." He nodded. "As for what I'd choose for myself? Honestly, I've never really thought about it. If there were any ability I'd want, though, it would probably be the ability to shift my form."

Ely chuckled, "Careful what you wish for, that is something you never get used to the feeling of, even after nearly a thousand years of life." Looking at Salena, Ely smiled, "Obviously, by my statement, my ability is to shift forms. I am what is known as a Skinwalker. We are shapeshifters. We have all of the enhanced senses of our creatures, paired with strength and speed as well. Consider me the most human version of a wolf you will ever meet. As far as what I'd have wanted myself? Honestly? I've never thought of it either. I guess it would be the ability to -stop- the heightened senses when I want. Sounds and smells can be crippling until you gain the willpower to push through... But even then, it hinders your ability to focus as well as you should. I'd want the ability to turn that off with a thought." He nodded, and Jacoby glanced at Ely.

"I like that, it would be extremely nice... But, I think I'd want the ability to just... experience life as a normal human. That would be oddly exciting. To know death is literall-" He paused and looked at Sullivan. "Well... I suppose I can feel that now, since death sits across from me." He chuckled, "Sorry, I just hadn't thought about that. But, since that's not really an ability, I suppose flying would be really nifty. Not being cooped up inside of a stuffy airplane when flying around, just to feel the wind whipping around your body like when we go on runs, Ely!"

"Ohhh, that's good, Jacoby, I like that one!" Ely nodded, endorsing his young pupil's thoughts.

Hiram tapped his chin, "I think I'd like the ability to be completely untraceable... Even by the wolves. To become the ultimate predator, apex of the apex. Alpha-prime, if you would..." He smirked, looking at Ely then winking. "As is, they call me a bloodhound for a reason. I'm the family's bounty-hunter. Also, charm and sensory manipulation are my abilities."

Sal smiled. "Well, I'm the sensitive child... I feel other's emotions, and can see inside their feelings, their thoughts, their very reasoning, often before they even know it's there. Truth-be-told, it sucks... But, as a confessor, it was wonderful."

"Help me Fath-"

"Don't..." He cut Amelia off, who pouted before poking his belly.

"Anyway, if it were up to me, probably ANY ability other than mine would be my choice. I'd take the ability to pass flatulence at will over my own."

Everyone chuckled softly at Sal, himself included. "Unfortunately, that's not the case, and I'm good with my gift. At least now I am. I've gotten used to it's charm. You know, the ability to know what it is you love, what you're hiding from, how much you hate me or fear me at first glance, and how much I can destroy your fickle world with the right words. It's really not as bad as I make it out to be." He looked at Tsukina. "You're turn!"

Tsukina smirked, "Well, you already witnessed my gift outside, but I can't think of anything better than what I've already been granted. Especially considering it was someone else's gift. MAYBE I would think about something that allowed me to speak more freely with the passed on. Something like Christian's gift... Or something that allows me to freely create life -without- needing something else's life force. That would be nice."

Nodding, Sullivan smiled and looked at Evelia. "She's human like you, she just got her father's big brain, and her mother's love, and your passion."

Evie frowned at Sully, "Well, if I picked my own ability, it would be the ability to raise the dead back to life... Like you wanted to do when you were alive. To create life where there is none..." She nodded and smiled. "Oh, and to have perfect pitch like you. That would be very wonderful." She smirked before looking down at Jacoby and ruffling his hair. That left Amelia and Sullivan, and all eyes looked at Sully first.

"What? Me? I feel like I technically -did- choose mine. Apparently I gave my gift to Tsukina or something, and then there's this new stuff for me? I picked my ability, even if I don't rightfully know what they are. So, if I could choose with the knowledge I have? Definitely the ability of judgement and repentance to those who deserve it." He nodded as everyone stared blankly at him. What, what had he said?

Amelia coughed and broke the tension. "Well, I'd like to be able to shapeshift, like Christian, but into other humans. Then I could be the PERFECT spy. However, I would want their memories as well... So, I think, as long as I come in contact with them, physically or something, that I'd like to be able to look just like them, with their memories. The. Perfect. Spy..."

"I can probably make that happen..."
"I can probably make that happen..."

Both Sullivan and Evie spoke out at the same time, then stared at each other. She was, in no doubt, his child...

Everyone burst out laughing... Christian finally calming himself enough to convince the others to calm, until Evie giggled and set them all off again. It was finally Elyan that brought it down and looked at Salena. "Do you mind if I ask, Christian?"

Christian, smirking, shook his head. "By all means, Elyan. Be my guest."

Ely nodded and leaned forward to rest his arms on his legs.

"When you sit in the, in between... What is it you see, exactly?"

All eyes turned to Sally yet again as Ely struck with a big one.

BIG breath. That was intense, but she'd dived in first. So fair is fair. Slowly Sally exhaled, the wheels in her head clearly spinning as she struggled toward the right words. 

"Oh... wow. Um... It's difficult to describe. It's like... standing in between the layers of reality. If that makes any sense? So you're entirely outside of both, but able to perceive them simultaneously... on top of each other. Everything tends to be muted... and muffled. And it gets colder the longer you stay. So... take this room, for example. I could see each of you. But you would sound like I was hearing you underwater and seeing you through fog. And I could see the other realms going about their business over and under and around you. So all the things that don't even know we're here right now... I'd see them just like I see you. And the few that do both, I'd see as well, interacting... poking, proding... feeding." She paused, a sudden apologetic expression crossing her features, "No offense." Shaking her head, she continued, "Imagine to be able to... just hover in the air... and see hell below you and heaven above you and still see the regular world all smooshed in between. But... there's more than that... so so much more. All mixed together like a bunch of stained glass all stacked on top of each other." 

She shivered a bit, growing cold even at the memory of it. "I died in my father's hospital once. I could see the beds and walk the hallways... and I could see everyone else who was passing away... like a watercolour breeze just drifting out of themselves. I could hear their wives and mothers weeping... like... like wind howling through a far off cliff. And there were... shadows that lurked and waited... like sleazy car salesman in the dark corners. And a few like me who were waiting." Sally's eyes glazed over a bit as she rambled, disappearing into her own head for a long moment as Sal squirmed in his seat, "But I could never speak to them. And eventually... something... some one," she corrected herself quickly, "Would come and take them away. The woman in the hospital was... two-faced. It was hard to look right at her. And for the children, she would kiss them and they just... evaporated. No more tears. No more laughter. Just... nothing. But the shadows... when she glared at the shadows, they SCREAMED as if they were burning from the inside out. It was... harrowing. But at the same time, her smile was... warm... and comforting. When I was there, it was the only warm thing in the whole world." 

Chuckling awkwardly, Sally shook her head as Sullivan lightly squeezed her shoulder, bringing her back to the "real world". "I'm... I'm sorry. Wat that too much?" She blushed, clearly embarrassed, but gasped quickly. 

"WAIT... wait, that's not my question." 

She glanced at Christian, waiting for his nod of approval before asking, "Given everything you know... IF... if you could pick a 'gift' for me, what would it be?" She grinned wickedly, watching the wave of 'oof' roll over her audience. Christian, smirking, gave her a nod. That was one way to start adjusting them all to the idea. Sneaking little bird. He approved. 

"Also, as an aside, Jacoby and Ely: Do you like head pets? Amelia, it's 'FORGIVE me Father, for I have sinned," she smirked teasingly at Sal for a moment, "And Sal, I think your gift is wonderful. It's warm and this world... especially your world... needs all the warmth that it can get. I'm sure it's more difficult than I will ever be able to fathom, and I will never deny you that. But you ARE a gift and a blessing. So... be as gentle with yourself as you are with everyone else... Padre." She winked playfully, sticking out her tongue before turning back to the group at large. 

Leaning back against Sullivan she nuzzled him tenderly, "Okay. Go." 

Jacoby nodded to answer her question, "I do in fact, but Ely-"

"It depends for me," Ely interrupted, knowing Jacoby would say no for him. "Normally I do not, but sometimes I will allow it. Other times, if I'mn quite honest with myself, it's nice." He chuckled, then nodded to the group who all looked at Christian to answer her -actual- question.

"If I could pick a gift for you... Hmmm." Christian tapped on his chin a bit in thought, then nodded. "I think I would give you the ability of temporal bending. You know, time travel... Or manipulation. I think that would be quite interesting. Speed time up, slow it down. Speed yourself up, slow yourself down to appear dead. Slow down enough that you could slip through the other dimensions if you wanted. That would be something I could see giving to you."

Everyone seemed to nod.

"Imagine being able to just slow yourself enough that you appeared dead, even to the other worlds, and could slip through the cracks?" Christian chuckled and smiled at her.

"So, what's the worst experience with death you've had thus far?"

Sally held up her finger, smirking at Christian. Leaning over her shoulder she started to whisper but gave up halfway through. It was no use anyway. "Don't freak out," she smiled sweetly to Sully before turning to look at Evie. "Thirty seconds," she asked sheepishly, unsure if the girl would even be amenable to her. To her surprise, Evelia smiled and nodded. Nodding along, Sally took a deep breath... 

... and held it... 

... and held it... 

She held it so long that the others in the room reminded themselves to breathe, just for encouragement. Slowly, her face turned pink, and then red, and then paled to a sickly white as her heartbeat quickened and then stuttered. Her expression grew pained, but she shook her head as Christian leaned in... smiling through the pounding in her head. 

They all heard it... stutter, stutter, silence. 

Sally's eyes glazed as her head lolled, falling back against Sully. Sullivan, suddenly on edge, grunted as he caught her, glaring at Evie with an expression halfway between 'what the fuck' and 'what do I do'?

Christian simply chuckled. "Touchè," he mumbled softly to no one in particular. 

Evie, tapping one finger softly, counted to herself as Sully shook Salena's limp shoulders, leaning in to check her vitals just as Salena shuddered and gasped. Her head spun for a few moments. Chuckling sardonically, she giggled up at the ceiling, petting the concern from Sully's cheek as she sat up to wink at Christian. 

Rubbing her head, she squeezed Sully's hand lightly. "I'm okay," she reassured him lovingly, "We've practiced." Evie nodded in agreement, giggling softly, "23 seconds." The others simply shook their heads. 

"As for you question," she smiled half-heartedly, "I think the worst had to be the first. It was unexpected... shocking... painful. And it was also the longest. Harvey..." Sally trailed off for a moment, clearing her throat softly as Sal shifted in his seat. Smiling at him weakly, she shielded herself, winning an approving smirk from both Christian and Ely. "Harvey wasn't sure that I wouldn't be a vegetable," she continued, more controlled this time. "For weeks afterwards, everything was cold. Nothing felt warm... not even the sun. It was agonizing. I thought for sure I'd never feel comfortable again. And then they brought Evie to Harvey... and it helped." 

She smiled sweetly. "Her delicate little fingers... all... baby fresh... I swear, they seemed like the first touch I'd received in all my life." Her eyes traced the floor as she glanced up at Evie, "I never said it out loud but... you saved me. Sully may have pioneered the research. Harvey may have pulled it off. ... but you, Sweetheart, you gave me life again." 

Blushing a bit, she glanced back up at Christian, "Everything after that felt like nothing." 

"So... um... okay, I know this is really dumb. But I'm out of good ones at the moment," she chuckled bashfully, "So... like... is ANYTHING I've read accurate or... like ANY part of popular myth or is all just bullshit propaganda?" 

"Bullshit!"
"Propaganda!"
"Bollocks!"
"FAKE NEWS!"
"Nothing."
"Maybe a little?"
"I don't know?"
"Only some."
"Naaaah!"

They all answered at the same time, then looked at each other and laughed. If anything, it was proof that the truth was... unknown. At least outside of the circle. Ely leaned back and crossed his legs, readjusting Kina's feet on his thigh before winking to her to let her know she was still okay.

"A lot of what is written was spread to hide the truth inside of stories. However, most of the myth behind it all, is not true. The brothers? Garlic doesn't really do anything to them. Silver? Stings, it's uncomfortable, but only on direct contact. There is light sensitivity for them, but not enough to really cause any issue aside from minor irritation." He chuckled.

"Holy water is ineffective, as is 'Holy Ground'... We can walk anywhere we want without impedance, so long as things are not warded particularly against our kind. Iron still works as a good deterrent."

Christian nodded. "No stake to my heart will kill me, however, where the -truth- in that is, it can paralyze us until our body can push it back out. So while it's not deadly, and can lead to a deadly mistake..." Tapping his chin, he thought for a moment. "What else, let's see... We don't sleep during the day, obviously... We actually -DO- have reflections, making it much easier to blend in with humans who are looking for someone who can't see themselves." He chuckled. "So pretty much everything is true, and not, at the same time."

Christian smiled.

"So is thirty seconds a record? Or is that how long it took you the first time to drop yourself down? Or, maybe it's how long you remain 'dead'?"

Chritian tilted his head to the right as he looked at Salena, and everyone else's eyes slowly turned on her as well.

Sally shook her head, "It's just an arbitrary safety cut-off. The brain can survive quite a bit longer than that without oxygen, but it's not something I ever want to risk for a parlour trick. But a fraction of that we assumed would be safe enough. So, Harvey always insisted that 30 seconds after the initial drop, I was to come back... one way or another. And Evie... however unfortunately... is quite well versed in exactly how to make that happen if necessary." Smirking, she lightly flicked the center of her sternum with a wink. "It's not long enough to really achieve anything. But I figured that with practice I could eventually train my body to prolong my stays... at least a small bit... with some modicum of safety. Kind of like a diver, y'know?" She shrugged with a smile. 
 

Chewing her lip she was quiet for a long moment, trying to sort through all of her thoughts and arrange them in some semblance of order. "I have SO MANY questions," she giggled softly and it was like a dam broke as her unabashed inquisitiveness unfurled in all its glory. Fixating on Meli, she grinned wickedly, "Is it better? With his gift, I mean? I imagine that has to be primo." Meli, unprepared, choked on her drink, as Sal shot Sally a flustered look of consternation.

Oblivious, Sally never skipped a beat... skimming over the mixture of stunned silence and equally stunned giggles that rolled through the room as if she HADN'T pried right into the sensitives. "You don't sleep during the day. But do you sleep AT ALL? Do you even need it? I've seen you eat. But - Ely and Jacoby excepting considering they're obvious biological divergence - is it for actual sustenance or just flavour? or show?? Do people all smell different? Like... can you identify individuals by scent? And, concurrently, are there different flavours? Do you have a favourite?"

She looked Hiram dead in the eyes for a moment, "Does adrenaline taste better??" Unhesitating, she flittered on as if asking something so off-the-wall serious was the most natural thing in the world. If she was a cat... she would definitely be dead. Turning to Ely for a moment she continued, "Is there an actual pack structure? As in, identifiable parallels between shifter and canid social behaviours? And are there other types? Would it be inappropriate to ask one of you to show me? Have you any idea why the... Oh! A. What do you call it? And THEN do you have any idea why it manifests in such wildly different ways within a single family lineage?" And then to Christian, "Is the light sensitivity present across the condition as a whole? In which case, is it possibly contributable to the obvious deficiency in postmortem melanin production?" she asked, pointing to her eyes before gesturing to his. 

Perfectly in sync, Sully and Evie both perked up, bearing nearly identical goofy grins as she got all 'sciency'.

Crossing her legs like a small child, Sally sat up... positively beaming with curiosity as she continued, "How does it work? And..." she glanced at Hiram again, "Will you tell me the story?" 

Meli and Sal both refused to answer, Meli hiding her face in Sal's chest; every bit of her skin flustered and blush. Sal's complexion remained pale, but the look on his face was equally embarrassed and concerned.

Christian started to answer, as did Ely, but with Sally's questions rattling on, they -all- decided to wait until she finished. Hiram perked a brow as she took a deep breath after finishing.

"What story?"

Sullivan chuckled and waved his hand, "She probably means the one you used to tell me about the family weapons..."

Ely raised a brow and looked at Hiram, "Family weapons?"

Hiram shrugged, looking at Ely, "No idea..."

Christian chuckled and shook his head. "Well, I'll at least answer your other questions." Shifting in his seat slightly, he faced Sally more, his hand trailing absentmindedly through Tsukina's hair.

"We do sleep, but we don't -need- sleep. Food, definitely for flavor and memory. It's easier to 'be human' if we know how things taste and can experience that properly. Sometimes it is for show, of course..."

"Not for me!" Hiram interjected with a chuckle. "It's always for flavor with me."

Rolling his eyes, Christian continued. "Ely can tell humans by their specific scent. We only track the scent of blood... However, we can tell different humans by their blood. Blood types make a world of difference also. Adrenaline has a euphoric feeling to it, but it does not affect the taste. We can all drink any blood, but each of us prefers different blood types based on what we were as a human. O-negative is a universal donor, and is decent for all of us, but as my blood is AB-positive, they all taste quite nice to me." He chuckled. "Probably explains why blood is my power too. I can take all kinds and use them how I wish." He shrugged, relinquishing the next bit to Elyan.

"There is a pack structure. Just like with wolves or other canine species. I am, of course, the Alpha of our family. Jacoby is one of my pack, once an Omega, but he proved himself." Ely smiled, nodding to the boy who was beaming; no longer his typical, gloomy self. "My beta is one named Dimitri, and my mate, the Alpha female, is Shomecosse. Between the three of us we share responsibility of leadership to the pack. In my absence, Dimitri is the protector and Shomecosse is the decision maker."

"There are certainly other types of shifters and skinwalkers. Shomecosse isn't even a wolf entirely. She's a coyote and a wolf, or a coy-wolf as they are called. Some shift into multiple things, we only shift into our singular forms. As for showing you? Well, you won't see us shift if we can keep it from happening. It's not always pretty. I'm sure you'll see my wolf at some point though."

Tapping his chin, he thought for a moment. "What do we call it? That's a good question, and I assume it depends on which one of us you ask, and what kind of mood or emotion we've been feeling. Currently? I love my life. I consider mine a gift... Sullivan probably considers it a curse... or at least did."

"Not so much cursed now," Sully chuckled.

"I still feel it's a curse," Hiram nodded, giving Sally a nod and a shrug.

"As to why it manifests differently?" Ely continued... "I'm not certain. Perhaps it has to do with Carlisle and myself being twins. We were together, so we each got half of the line? That's the only thing I can assume..."

Looking back to Christian, he nodded.

Picking up on her next question, Christian began again, "I've never honestly given much thought to the paled skin tone... I suppose the light sensitivity could cause that. I'd assume, though, that it has to do with the lack of blood actually coursing through the veins without us willing it. And the lack of oxygen in the body."

Christian paused for a moment before looking at Sullivan. "So what story is it exactly that you seem to remember Hiram telling you? And Sally," his gaze dropped to her, "which part specifically is it you're wanting to know how it works?"

Sally, blinking, blushed a little. That was a loaded question. 

"Honestly," her voice tiptoed across her lips sheepishly, "All of it." She shrugged with a shy smile. 

"I'm utterly fascinated. Probably impolitely so. I have so many questions and curiosities. And... I don't know where the 'line' is, so to speak. So... I don't know what's appropriate or not... where to stop." Her fingers absentmindedly traced the scars along her chest and face, "And I'm sure that you're all used to a certain amount of that. And I fully trust that you would, of course, be gracious even in admonishing my inquisitiveness, if need be. But... I'm still a bit stuck because I honestly want to know EVERYTHING and yet, I also don't want to push the envelope or disrespect you in any way." 

Dropping her hands, she met Christian's gaze sternly. "There are so many things, that I don't even think I have words for it all. I want to know how the shift happens, understand how the different conditions take effect and if there's a pattern to its manifestation, learn the history of all of it... what your senses feel like, how the world smells, what is sunlight like, what else is there... I... I want to know how it tastes, how it feels, how it's different and the same. I want to know ALL THE THINGS. And I just... don't know what's too rude to ask." 

Blushing, she hid her face in the crook of Sully's arm. "Obviously," she added glancing at Sal as she mouthed the word 'sorry'. 

Sully, chuckling, pulled her close, petting her hair as he spoke over her shoulder. "Hiram had a wonderful little child's tale about Aoibhel and Damian. How she betrayed him the moment the twin's fates were assured. I remember it from when I was little. And may have shared it while I was packing our things from the old attic." 

It was Sullivan's turn to blush bashfully as she rubbed the back of his head. "Apparently she found it as memorable as I did," he chuckled... unsurprised but a little embarrassed that no one else seemed to remember. 

Hiram shrugged, shaking his head.

"I'm really not sure what you're talking about, Sullivan. I never told you any stories about family weapons." He chuckled, and Sullivan frowned.

"Sure you did... About Damian's sword and Aoibhel's dagger," Sullivan huffed out, quickly getting annoyed at his brother, assuming he was purposely trying to make him look like a fool.

Elyan and Christian, on the other hand, looked at each other, the former inhaling slowly as his lips pulled tight.

"Sullivan," Ely's voice called softly but with authority. "Can you show me these blades?"

Sullivan nodded, patting Sally's side, then stood and vanished into the hallway, the room door creaking as it opened in the distance. Sally looked to the fire and spoke softly, "Sorry if I've caused an issue with that."

Hiram shook his head, "Not at all, but I'm not certain what story he's thinking about." Ely nodded in agreement. "I don't think you've told him any stories, Hiram... I fear what he's gotten his hands on."

Sally looked at Elyan for the briefest of seconds, until she heard Sully come back into the room. Her gaze quickly shifted to watch him. He approached and handed the blades to Ely, he and Christian inspecting them.

"Son of a..." Ely exclaimed and trailed off. Christian simply stared as he spun the sword around in his hands.

"These look like Damian and Aoibhel's weapons alright. However, this were destroyed years ago... Before Hiram was even born. I know, because I did it to make sure Carlisle couldn't use them. That's why he started making the brothers here. Forging new weapons that he could use against our father."

Ely offered the dagger back, Christian offering the sword. "I don't know who actually told you this story, or if -somehow- it was carried through realms and you were given the memory of Hiram telling you, but these shouldn't be here." Ely chuckled softly, "But I'm glad they are... They might make our fight against your father that much easier..."

Sullivan blinked as he took the blades back from Ely and Christian. "No, I remember the story vividly!" Not wanting to believe, he looked to Sal who shrugged. "Beats me, brother. I've never seen or heard about them."

Sullivan returned to his seat with Sally, confusion engraved into his face.

"I suppose these are a -new- story for another time, then..." Everyone nodded, then Christian stood and stretched. "As for you," he looked at Sally, "It would be a lot for me to explain everything, how about we touch base on all of those questions at a later time?"

Sally sighed softly. There was so much she still wanted to understand. It wasn't like they needed the sleep, after all. But, she respected their need for rest, none the less. And there was still much to process, for all of them. 

Giving Christian a soft smile, she nodded. "Of course. I appreciate everyone being so patient and open. Really. And if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know. I may not be 'special', but I can certainly follow orders. And I really would like to be useful." she nodded sweetly as she stretched. 

"Before we go, if I could just ask one last question," she eyed Christian, who nodded. Looking around the room, her fingers traced the scar that ran along her chest beneath her clothes, the palest pink tip just visible as it peeked through the unbuttoned collar of her blouse, "If there was one piece of advice... one single thing that each of you would share with someone in my position, what would that be?" 

She was sweet and humble as she smiled... an unexpected grace and subtlety to the way she asked for help without asking. It drew a warm smile to Sully and Christian's lips, Hiram following suit with a nod of appreciation that slowly filtered over to Sal as the emotion infused him. She was so full of little surprises. 

Smiling, Hiram started... "Well for one, don't tiptoe around trying to walk on eggshells. We all know you're here. Be here. Enjoy yourself." He smiled again, then looked at his brother...

"I agree with Hiram. There isn't much for you to worry about that we aren't going to notice. Probably before you're even aware of the worry. Be straightforward, as you have been, and we will continue to be as such with you. We will let you know if there is an issue. The only thing I suggest, is try and keep calm. Not so much for us, but for your own heart. At least until such a time that we can calm it's irregularities." Christian looked at Sullivan, "Which, if you've not started working out, you should. Let me know if I can help. I may not know your sciences as well as you, but I do know my abilities..." Nodding, he turned to Salvatore.

"You're, ummm... You're actually quite kind. I can feel the shielding you do for me. It's appreciated. However, don't feel like you have to hide yourself from me. Yes, it affects me... Quite roughly at times. However, I know it can be hard and I am, in fact, quite used to human emotion. Meli here goes to extreme lengths to hide herself away. Sometimes I wish she wouldn't. Sometimes that void is more painful than the understanding I can get from feeling you, if that makes sense?" He grinned a bit sheepishly. "Besides, I'm much better at my own abilities than I'm sure Sully remembers and has conveyed. They don't tend to cripple me much anymore." Sal chuckled, smiling and looking to Elyan.

"Bathe... I can smell him all over you." Ely chuckled as Sullivan and Sally both blushed, drawing laughs from the others... "But in seriousness, personal hygiene is probably one of the nicest things you can do for any of us. Regardless, we will have your scent. But if it's a nice scent, we're going to be less grumpy at having to be around it. You know, something like now. You smell very well taken care of. Better than Hiram, for sure."

"Hey now!" Hiram exclaimed, looking at Elyan who wore a smirk on his face. "Come now, young nephew, I'm just toying with you."

Hiram grumbled about being called young. He was the oldest here, minus Ely... Then again, in comparison, he was young to Elyan.

Jacoby chuckled, then looked at Salena. "You're perfect already... You care, and that's probably one of the biggest things that you could do. You legitimately care. I could sense it from day one, which is what worried me." He smiled. "I no longer worry about you. You belong with this family. A perfect fit, if you would. Your own abilities to slip into the world of death, your own abilities to accept the unacceptable... To want to understand the world you -truly- live in, and not the one we allow the rest of the world to perceive... You're one of us, Salena, and this family has -always- protected it's own."

Elyan paused and looked over to Jacoby, a strange smile on his face. "Wise words from the once outsider. You prove every day just how far you've come, Jacoby. I am proud to have you stand with me." Jacoby's chest seemed to puff in pride at the comment from his Alpha. High-praise for certain.

Christian lifted Tsukina's head and stood, looking down to the woman with a smile. "You should give her some advice as well, my love. Especially as the only female and newest born of our kind in the house." He looked to Evie. "And you as well, as both her friend and her love. She cared for you, and still does. It is why she does not push you and wishes for you to come into your own acceptance. She loves you, child. Take your time, but remember, unlike ours... It is limited. More so for young Sally, I'm afraid." The look on Evie's face was slightly horrified at the mention that time was fragile for Sally as she turned to look at her mother/sister figure from childhood.

Christian turned back to Sally. "Jacoby is right though. You've been the perfect guest, and you do belong here with this family. Sullivan is lucky to have a mate like you thrice over in his life. Most of us only experience true happiness once, maybe twice. Hang on to that." He nodded to both Sullivan and Sally in his last comments, before stepping away from the group.

"I'll be in my study." He smiled back to Tsukina, nodding to her. It was obvious he'd spoken to her, but what he'd said was for her only... And they smiled at each other.

Sullivan chuckled and nuzzled Sally's neck before turning his gaze on Tsukina, waiting for her...

It was Sally's turn to hide her face in Sullivan's chest, the show of her bright blush unmissed by Meli and Sal as her muffled moan of frustration echoed off Sully's collar bone. 

"SEE!" she chirped loudly, shaking her finger at Ely, "THIS is why I worry! I swear to every god I know, I was in the shower for TWO HOURS and I STILL smell." She melted dramatically back against Sully with a playful air, "It's fucking hopeless." Tugging a strand of her still-damp hair over one shoulder, she stretched the spiralling curl straight before sniffing it lightly... pouting at it as if it could somehow be anything other than it was just by sheer force of will. 

She honestly looked disturbed, real tears of embarrassment and frustration stinging her eyes as they welled with indignation... not because it had been said, but because she felt so utterly helpless to make it better for them. And the force of that realization, the depth of her compassion for creatures so wholly unhuman, slammed into Sal with a force he'd not experienced in years. She wasn't sad-mad for herself... she was helpless to FIX IT... as if her very being-ness was something she would gladly alter for their comfort. 

WHO DOES THAT? 

Shaking herself free of the momentary melancholia, she smiled at the others. After all, dwelling on it CERTAINLY wouldn't help the situation any. Better to smell happy... hopefully... she reminded herself, noticing a frown of discomfort from Jacoby. 

"Oh well," she perked up, "I'll adjust, I suppose." 

Kina smiled and nodded, sitting up to join the conversation for the first time in a long time. "You will. But my advice to you is two-fold. Firstly, take your time... however limited it may be. Adjusting to this family is much like adjusting to grief. It comes in waves... sometimes soft and gentle, other times like an unavoidable tsunami. I commend your curiosity and your will to accept us. But know that there will be moments where that acceptance feels like an insurmountable task. There will be moments where, despite your white-knuckled stubbornness, our world feels just as unnatural as it is. You will have moments of fear. You will have moments of doubt. You will even have moments of sheer horror. And this life will be much easier... for all of us... if you honour that, if you allow yourself to naturally feel your humanity rather than fight it. Remember, no one here will guilt you, no one here will be insulted, no one here will think that you have failed or changed your mind or are weak. Don't think that YOU have to fight your nature any more than you expect us to fight ours. Do not feel as though you have to hide yourself away when it becomes too much. And it will. But in those moments, remember - as Jacoby said - we always protect our own. And we will all do everything we can to help you move through as gently as possible. No judgement," Kina smiled as she spoke, clearly recalling her own moments of doubt as allowed a few seconds pause for the room to settle before continuing. 

"Secondly, and along the same lines, please... feel all the things. Truly. I know that you feel like a burden or an inconvenience because you cannot control the nature of your humanity for us," she chuckled softly, the corners of Hiram's lips tugging with a hidden tell-tale smile. Kina had come so far. And she was shaping up to be a picture-perfect matron. She sounded much like her grandmother. And he was overwhelmed with mixed feelings of pride and lonely longing. He had chosen well. It was a shame she had done the same. 

"But you must remember, Sweetling: even at your worst, you are an indescribable gift and blessing to us. Because you remind us of our own humanity, however far away that may be. You remind us what it is that we fight to protect. You remind us why this life is so precious. And, yes. we have other humans in the house," she smiled at Meli, "and they are all wonderful little reminders in their own way. But, aside from our dear Amelia, you are likely to be our closest and most constant reminder. So... the more that you feel, the more that we get to remember. And there is a joy in that which is beyond words. So... be yourself. Don't hold back on our behalf. LIVE. YOUR. LIFE. ... so that we can remember what it's like to live. Yes?" 

Sally, nodded silently, Kina smiling as she sat back and motioned to Evie. Sally, chewing her bottom lip, traced the whorling patterns of the hardwood floor as it flowed from beneath the warm rug she rested on. It was a long, painful moment before she could bring herself to raise her gaze, terrified of Evie's expression. And she was utterly unprepared when she finally did. 

Evelia, tearfully, scooched a bit closer. Christian's reminder that Sally, unlike the rest, would die... sooner rather than later... had struck the girl like a ton of bricks. Time stood still in this house. So much so that - after a while - she'd forgotten that death was natural for the rest of the world. Biting her lip, Evie glanced at Sally as she scooched just an inch closer again. Sally, smiling, held out her hand and - to everyone's surprise, but her own - Evelia happily crawled into her lap like a grown child. Hugging her close, Sally kissed the girls forehead, absentmindedly rocking a bit as she ran her fingers through her hair. 

"I'm so sorry," Evie started. But a soft glance from Sally shooshed the words from her mouth. "Me too," Sally nuzzled the girls head with cheek, "I didn't know at first, you know. I just saw his sadness and his grief. And all I knew is that we could give each other a reason." Sally pressed her lips to the girls head again, "I had no idea he already had one." Leaning into Sully, she smiled as he squeezed her hand. Tilting her head ever so slightly, she beckoned him toward her... allowing him to rest his chin on her shoulder. Sally smiled as the scent of Evie's hair swirled around him; beamed as she watched the content realization wash over him. This was the closest he'd ever been to his child. 

"When it all clicked... and we realized... I just... I couldn't... we needed each other. And I hated myself for it because I knew you would hate me, too. And I knew it would all be too much. And I knew I was being SO SELFISH but... Sweety, it didn't hurt anymore. For the first time in such a long time, it didn't hurt to be alive. And... I know it makes me a monster... but I just couldn't force myself to give that up. Even for you." 

Tears slid down Sally's cheeks as she kissed the top of Evie's head again. But, shockingly, the girl smiled. Shaking her head, Evie pet Sally's cheeks with a warmth that had been, up to this point, void. "Don't be silly," she said softly, with a lilt that sounded SO MUCH like Matty. "Monsters belong here," Evie reminded her, drawing a chuckled from the rest of the room. 

"And... how could you not?" With a shay glance, Evie looked back at Sullivan, really making eye contact for the first time. They were green... like hydrangeas and seafoam; a perfect match to Sally's right eye. "We both grew up with an idealized white knight of a memory. He was yours as much as he was mine. So... how could you not? And how could I blame you?" She smiled back at Sally, her eyes beginning to tear. "It's only natural that the woman who raised me would fall for the father who was taken from me." 

Sullivan and Salena shared a knowing glance that did not go unnoticed by the rest of the room. "What?" Evie perked up, "What is it?" 

For a split second, the two really DID look like mother and father as they shared a silent argument over the situation... their expressions communicating wordlessly over Evie's cuddled head. "It would help her understand," Sally finally hissed softly, winning out as Sully hung his head. 

Shooting Jacoby a beckoning nod, Sally patted the floor next to her, hopeful that his protective presence might make the next leg of the evening easier for Evelia. Much to Ely's entertainment, the boy lurched to the spot without reserve... just like a well-trained pup. Smiling warmly, Evie nuzzled his cheek, resting her head on his shoulder for a moment before continuing. 

"It's about my heart," she finally whispered softly, sitting Evelia upright to meet her gaze. "And... it's almost cruel. But... you have to know that Harvey didn't know at the time. And... I don't know why he never said anything, but I trust his intentions were MOSTLY good." The three shared a soft chuckle at their friend's expense before Sally took a deep breath. "I... I never did the math. I guess I should have," her voice was shaky as her fingers absentmindedly traced the scar beneath her blouse; Evelia's eyes widening a bit as she ran the numbers silently. Sully nodded. Sally breathed. "Apparently, Harvey wasn't informed of the Donor's information. He didn't put the piece's together until he prepared your mother's funeral." 

There was a long pause as the two stared at each other, Evie silently petting the scars on Sally's face. Everyone else held their breath, Sally glancing at Sully with a 'help me' look before Evie finally melted in to hug them both. Sighing in relief, Sally yanked Jacoby in with a goofy grin. "You're stuck in this puddle of fuck, too, Kiddo. Get over here," she laughed as everyone else chuckled softly. 

That had gone better than expected. Hopefully, the rest of the week would go as smoothly. One could hope. 

Smiling over her shoulder, Kina softly closed the door to the den behind her as she slipped into Christian's office. Her departure unnoticed by the others as they exploded into boisterous conversation that tinkled through the house late into the night.